Combined storm-apron and dust-hood.



Patented Aug. 5, I902. G. WALTER.

COMBINED STORM APRON AND DUST HOOD.

(Application filed Feb 5 1902.)

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Patented Aug. 5, I902.

6. WALTER.

COMBlNED STORM APRON AND DUST HOOD.

Application filed Feb. 5, 1902,)

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GUSTAVE \VALTER, OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS COMBINED STORM-APRON AND DUST-HOOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,285, dated August 5, 1902.

Application filed February 5,1902. Serial No. 92,641. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE WALTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Storm-Apron and Dust-Hood, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a buggy, showing the device used as a storm-apron; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the manner of adjustment when used as a dust-hood; Fig. 3, a plan View of the inner side of the apron; Fig. 4:, a detail vertical section showing the manner of attaching it to the upper part of the buggy-top, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a modification of the device for attaching it to the buggy-top.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple apron which may be readily attached and detached and which in one adjustment will afford the occupants of the buggy a complete protection against rain, snow, sleet, and wind and which in its other adjustment will afford an effective device for excluding dust from the buggy-top when the same is folded down; and the invention consists of certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings by letters, a designates the main part of the apron, which is substantially oblong in shape and which has attached to each of its longitudinal edges near the lower or forward end a laterally-extending wing b, which is also approximately oblong in shape, the said parts a, and Z) being constructed of flexible Waterproof material. In a hem or pocket formed along the upper edge of the apron is inclosed a thin transversely flexible or elastic metal strip 0, which is capable of being bent or flexed to properly fit within the curved front edges of the buggyzany suitable devices may be employed to detachably secure the upper edge of the apron in place; but I prefer the devices shown, which consist of a series of spring clampinghooks attached to the inner side of the front '50 bar of the buggy-top and into which the uping to the clasps, so that the clasps shall bear directly upon the metal strip. Instead of these clasps I may, as shown in Fig. 5, do away with the metal strip and employ spiral springs e, inclosed in suitable hems or pockets at the respective ends of the upper edges of the curtain, and provide the respective free ends of these springs with hooks 6, adapted to engage the respective upper pivot-pins of the top-props. In this modification the apron is secured on the outside of the buggy-top, whereas with the flexible metal strip the apron is attached to the inner or under side of the too.

The upper part of the apron is provided with suitable Windowsfand a suitable slit 9 for the passage of the driving-lines, and to detachably fasten the side edges of the apron to the front bars of the top-prop a suitable strap h and a hook tare attached to each side edge of the apron at suitable points above the wings b.

To adj ustably and detachably fold and clasp the lower apron around the dashboard, I employ an elastic webbing or strap and buckle j, attached to the inside of the apron at its lower edge and provided with a ring j at its free end to adapt said free end for connection with a hook 7c, attached to the opposite oorner of the apron.

As will be observed from Fig. 1, when the appliance is in use as a storm-curtain the entire front of the buggy-top and the buggybody are covered, the wings I) hanging down on either side close to the sides of the buggy, and thereby preventing the ingress of rain, &c., at the sides. The flexible strip at the upper edge of the curtain permits the same to not only be secured within or under the upper edge of the buggy-top, but also adapts the curtain to buggy-tops of various shapes and sizes. As will be observed, attaching the upper edge of the curtain close under the forward edge of the buggy-top eifectually prevents leak age of water into the interior of the buggy. When the appliance is used as a dust-hood, it is simply necessary to detach its lower end from the dashboard and its side edges from the top-prop, fold the side wings in under the main part of the apron, and fold the lower part of the curtain in upon itself. Then when the buggy-top is let down the folded part will rest against the baok-rest of the buggy-seat and completely cover the same and the buggy-top, thereby excluding dust not only from the back-rest, but also from the buggy-top.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is

A combined storm-apron and dust-hood con sisting of a waterproof flexible fabric provided at its lower end with means for attaching it to the dashboard and at its side edges with means for detachably fastening it to the top-props-and at its upper end with means for attaching itto a buggy-top, this latter GUSTAVE WALTER Witnesses:

JOSEPH KLIMM, EMIL TROUPE. 

